THE huge Edinburgh star has caught the eye of English giants Leicester with his displays but says the only thing occupying his mind right now is getting the autumn tests off to a good start this weekend.

DAVE DENTON insists talk of a switch to English giants Leicester will not distract him from his immediate aim of starring on his Scotland return.

The giant breakaway forward is rumoured to be a target for the Tigers when his Edinburgh contract finishes at the end of the season.

But Denton last night shrugged off the claims and vowed to roar like a lion again for his country as he is 100 per cent focused on helping the Scots launch their autumn Test campaign by beating Japan at Murrayfield.

The man mountain Gunners star is adamant he has shrugged off all his injury woes and is back to his best.

And he can’t wait to prove it when he pulls on a Scotland jersey again.

Denton said: “It’s awesome just to be playing again. Last season was tough because I didn’t get a run of games at any stage.

“It was a very frustrating time because every time I felt I was coming back to form I had to take weeks, – or even a couple of months – off.

“Things have been so different this season because I’ve had nine matches in a row for Edinburgh. It’s great to be back doing what I do.

“I have had no interest in being rested because I hadn’t played a lot of rugby.”

And when asked about the link to Leicester, Denton replied: “It’s a compliment but at the moment I’ve got my mind firmly set on these Tests and the job in hand.”

Denton is looking forward to transferring his impressive Gunners form to the big stage.

He added: “New coach Alan Solomons has been putting a massive emphasis on me doing a lot more around the field.

“I think I need to use my size and athleticism in as many ways as I can.

“I’m trying to make as big an impact in defence as I make in attack, and in particular at the breakdown.

“For Scotland and Edinburgh, the breakdown is massively important to the way we want to play,

“So that’s an area I need to be very good at.”

On Scotland’s prospects, Denton said: “We are in a good place – we have a lot of guys who are fit, unlike the summer tour in South Africa. It’s a nice luxury for Scott Johnson to have a wide base to pick from and potentially spread the experience about in the build-up to the World Cup.

“Japan are going to be a very tough team to play against.

“We’re going to have to stick to our systems to make sure we put them away.

“Johnno reckons we’re going to run more in this game than in any other this season.

“Japan play a very high-tempo game and they play from anywhere as well.

“That’s a massive contrast to most other Test nations who don’t like to play in their own half. But we have the ammunition in our team to get through it.”

Denton was backed up by Scotland skipper and fellow back-row star Kelly Brown, who is also back on the international stage after injury.

Brown needed surgery to repair ankle damage sustained against the Springboks during the summer tour of South Africa.

And he said: “These games are really important with the Six Nations and World Cup after that to consider.

“We need to look to improve every time we play.

“We say that every time we train. When we walk off the pitch we want to be better players and better as a team than when we walked on it.

“But Japan will be a tough one for us. They have got some really good athletes and play a fast game.

“We’re expecting them to want to play and move the ball around.

“But over the years they have grown in all aspects of the game and have a very good set-piece so we will have to be on our guard.

“For me, it was hard missing those last two games in South Africa, especially because the side played really well in those matches.

“I always wanted to be involved in games like that but all I could do was focus on working hard on rehab.

“I’m now fit and it’s a huge honour to be captain again.

“Injuries are just part and parcel of life. It wasn’t ideal but I just accepted that it was something I’ve got to go through from time to time.

“I’m not great watching games but in a funny way I actually enjoy the rehab process because I’m quite a stubborn guy and I enjoy the challenge of that.”